KR100839329B1 - How to manufacture right angle coaxial electrical connectors, coaxial electrical connector assemblies, and right angle coaxial connector assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

The right angle coaxial electrical connector assembly 2 according to the present invention comprises a shell subassembly 10, a collar subassembly and a central pin contact 50 and a dielectric sleeve 60 attached thereto. The collar subassembly 70 is a spring that can be loaded relatively to the shell subassembly 10. The collar assembly 70 is formed of two mating male and female housings 72. The shell subassembly includes a molded rear shell 30 and a screwed front shell 12. The front shell includes a flexible snap locking finger 16 that holds the locking engagement with the mating connector by the collar subassembly 70.

Right Angle, Snap, Coaxial, Electrical Connectors

Description

A RIGHT ANGLE COAXIAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR, A COAXIAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASEMMBLY, AND A METHOD OF FABRICATING A RIGHT ANGLE COAXIAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY}

1 is a side view of a right angle coaxial electrical connector or plug assembly in cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view along the center plane of the connector or plug assembly shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is an illustration of a mating surface of the connector or plug assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the opening into which the mating coaxial socket connector is inserted to engage the plug assembly.

4 is a rear view of the connector or plug assembly of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

5 is a vertical sectional view of the front shell incorporating a flexible spring finger that snaps onto the mating coaxial socket so that the two coaxial connectors remain engaged.

6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the front shell shown in FIG.

7 is a side view of a center contact of the type used in the right angle coaxial connector shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a dielectric surrounded by a shell and including a central hole for receiving the pin contacts shown in FIG. 7.

9 is a cross sectional view of the front shell showing the means for preventing the outward deflection of the spring finger with the collar in the first or neutral position.

10 is a cross-sectional view of a rear shell with a center or pin contact disposed in a position where a conductor of a central coaxial cable can be positioned to terminate the pin contact.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the ends of the stripped coaxial cable prepared for termination in the coaxial electrical connector assembly of FIGS. 1-10.

12 is an external perspective view of one of two collar housings forming a collar subassembly.

FIG. 13 is an internal perspective view of the collar housing shown in FIG. 12.

The present invention relates to a coaxial electrical connector, in particular the connector of the present invention is a right angle caxial connector, such as a plug or a socket, and furthermore, when the two connectors are coupled to each other It is directed to a snap lock connector that is locked but not detached or released by simply applying tension to one of the mating connectors.

Coaxial or RF plug and jack electrical connectors usually include means for connecting the central conductor of a separate coaxial cable or for connecting the outer shield or braid of the two cables. In some instances, the center conductor in one cable is connected directly to the socket terminal of the other coaxial cable, but often a pin is attached or crimped to the center conductor of the cable. For each connector or terminal the center contact or braid contacts are typically separated by a cylindrical dielectric surrounding the center contact. External contacts are typically provided with an end of the cable and, after stripping, the crimp ferrule on the braid to attach to the shield or braid of the coaxial cable.

Once a coaxial connector such as a plug and a jack is attached to the coaxial cable, various means for joining the plug connector and the jack connector are used. The connector may use an outer ring having a thread inside, and this thread may be screwed into the outer thread of the other connector to be joined. BNC-style coaxial connectors also use side-to-side pins or posts on a single connector in the slot of the mating connector. However, the arrangement of such coaxial connectors must be mounted by rotating one connector relative to the connector to be joined. This approach can be very satisfactory in many traditional applications, such as field coupling of two coaxial cables, for example, when connecting two cables in a commercial or residential building. However, when coaxial cables are assembled in larger production environments, for example in larger components or subassemblies such as those used in automobiles or automobiles, two coaxial cables are screwed in. It may not be desirable to connect in a manner.

As an alternative to coaxial connectors that screw one connector into the other, a snap-on, quick connect, or quick disconnect method can be used. This arrangement is a combination of one coaxial cable and the other coaxial cable by simply pushing in without rotation between each other. Such conventional snap-on connectors typically have a plurality of screw machines or die cast spring fingers in a cylindrical shape. Adjacent spring fingers are separated by slots and include mating ridges adjacent their free ends. Each spring finger may be radial when the mating connector with a different diameter than the spring finger is in its normal neutral position is pushed up. Each spring finger may bend inward or outward, depending on whether it is inserted into a bore in a cylindrical sleeve or outside of a cylindrical barrel. When the quick connect, quick release and snap-on connectors are fully interlocked, the spring fingers are received in grooves or recesses on the mating connectors. Thus the spring finger returns to the neutral position. Examples of this general type of coaxial connector are described in US Pat. No. 4,017,139; US Patent 4,412,717; US Patent 5,842,872; And US Pat. No. 6,036,540. Conventional coaxial connectors of this type do not require rotational motion for mutual coupling, but the force required for release is approximately equal to the force at connection or mutual coupling. Therefore, quick-connect, quick-release coaxial connectors cannot be locked when they are mated together. As a result, a greater force is required when disconnecting or releasing coaxial connectors than when engaging them. The fact that these conventional connectors cannot be interlocked can cause problems when they are used in automated applications or in device assemblies for use in similar applications. This is because the force may not be inadvertently applied during the assembly process, and may be detached due to the force applied to one of the coaxial cables during the assembling process. Vibration due to the movement of an automobile or similar device can also result in the disengagement of mutually coupled coaxial connectors.

The use of locking mold collar assemblies constructed by interlocking male and female housings is referred to as a 'snap on plug coaxial connector' in US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 738,675 Well disclosed in The patent shows an in-line coaxial connector instead of a right angle coaxial connector, and an example of a right angle coaxial connector using a spring finger for mating the connector can be found in US Pat. No. 6,036,540. However, such a connector does not provide a means for locking the two connectors together.

In some cases where coaxial connectors are applied, the use of right angle connectors is required. Space constraints may require the use of right angle connectors instead of the more common inline coaxial assemblies. Automated assemblies are an example of their use, but another constraint on their use may require the use of more complex right-angle connectors. However, in practice, right angle coaxial connectors such as sockets and plugs have physical difficulties in production or finishing. Not only does the instant invention alone provide a right angle coaxial connector, but simply pulling one of the connectors does not provide a connector that locks the two ipsilateral connectors together so that they are not separated or released. To remove the connectors requires additional force or technical manipulation. This requirement also complicates the manufacture of connectors, and instantaneous inventions can only provide a very simple production approach to connector assemblies, including shells and variable collars. The shell is divided into two parts. According to a preferred embodiment the rear shell is made of die cast and the front shell is screwed. Since the front shell includes a flexible snap lock finger, damage to the finger can also be minimized by screwing the front shell.

In order to achieve the above and other objects, the present invention is composed of a right angle coaxial electrical connector assembly, the assembly comprising a center contact, a dielectric surrounding the center contact, a center contact and the dielectric surrounding the dielectric contact. Shell subassembly, and collar subassembly. The shell subassembly is located between the dielectric and the color subassembly. The collar subassemblies alternately load the spring and are relatively variable relative to the shell subassembly.

The shell subassembly includes a front shell attached to the back shell. The rear shell has a first passageway extending in a direction perpendicular to the intersecting second passageways. The central contact and the dielectric are located in the first passageway. The second passage is sized to receive at least a portion of the stripped end of the coaxial cable to which the connector is attached.

The collar subassembly is generally coaxial with respect to the first passage and the front shell includes at least one radially flexible spring finger extending beyond the rear shell. This color subassembly can vary between the first or neutral position and the second position relative to the shell subassembly. The collar subassembly engages a spring finger in a neutral position to prevent the spring finger from bending radially outward. This spring finger is spaced apart from the collar subassembly in the second position so that the spring finger can be varied radially outward when the collar subassembly is in the second position. The connector can thus be locked to a mating or matching connector and not detached until the collar is displaced longitudinally relative to the shell.

Representative or most preferred embodiments of the right angle coaxial electrical connector assembly 2 described herein include a snap on, right angle, mini UHF coaxial plug assembly. The plug assembly 2 includes a shell subassembly 10, a color subassembly 70, a center or pin contact 50, and a dielectric 60 separating the shell subassembly and the center contact 50. 1 and 2 show the above components and subassemblies and the combined relations of the respective parts. However, it is also possible to introduce a socket or female center contact instead of the male or pin center contact 50 described in the exemplary embodiment.

The shell subassembly 10 includes a front shell 12 fixed to the foremost of the rear shell 30. The cylindrical dielectric 60 is located in the cylindrical passageway of the back shell 30 and the pin contact 50 is located in the central bore 62 in the dielectric 60. The back shell 30 is crimped or deformed inward to hold the dielectric 60 in place. The collar subassembly 70, which includes two identical or male-shaped housing components 72, is positioned in an enclosing relationship with respect to the front shell 12 and a portion of the rear shell 30. Lose. The coil spring 90 is fixed between the collar subassembly 70 and the shell subassembly 12, wherein the shell subassembly is provided with respect to the shell subassembly 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Hold the collar subassembly 70 in one or neutral position. However, the collar subassembly 70 can be moved forward or backward in the neutral position in relation to the shell subassembly 12, resulting in the spring 90 being compressed. And when this strain is removed, the compressed coil spring 90 causes the collar subassembly 70 and / or the shell subassembly 12 to return to the neutral position.

The front shell 12 and the rear shell 30 are fixed together by being mounted at the rear of the front shell while forming a relationship surrounding the foremost of the rear shell 34. According to the most preferred embodiment, even though the front shell 12 is stacked on the rear shell 34, mutual interference suitable for supporting a pushing force of approximately 155 Newtons is introduced. According to a preferred embodiment, the front shell 12 is screwed into a material such as phosph bronze, which has superior ductility or flexibility than the material used to make the rear shell 30. It is manufactured by. According to a preferred embodiment the back shell comprises a zinc die cast member.

The front shell 12 is a cylindrical member having six flexible cantilevered spring fingers 16 extending from a continuous cylindrical band 14 forming the rearmost portion of the front shell 12. Adjacent spring fingers 16 are separated by slots 18, and the front end or end of each spring finger 16 is each radially outwardly flexible. Each flexible spring finger 16 is located at a small distance from the free end of the spring finger and includes inwardly and rounded protrusions or ribs 20. The ribs or protrusions 20 engage with mating surfaces on the mating connector to lock the plug assembly 2 to the mating connector (not shown) to prevent sudden disconnection. The outer ribs or projections 22 are located between the vertical position of the inner ribs 22 and the ends of the parts or the corresponding spring fingers 16. The outer rib 22 serves to support against the opposing surface of the collar subassembly 70. At that time, the color subassembly 70 and the shell subassembly 10 are in a relative neutral position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

At the rear of the front shell 10 the cylindrical band 14 has an inner bearing surface 24 that engages the outside of the foremost portion of the rear shell 30 in an assembled configuration. An inwardly extending bearing rim 26 abuts the front edge of the rear shell 30 such that the two shell members can be positioned longitudinally in the assembled configuration of the shell subassembly 10.

The rear shell 30 is an integral zinc die cast body having a front donut or cylindrical body portion 32 and a conventional rectangular body portion 36. The first passageway 40 extends through the toroidal body portion 32 and is intersected by a second passageway, which passes through a rectangular body portion 36 substantially perpendicular to the first passageway 40. Extends through. The first passageway 40 is sized to receive the pin or center contact 50 and the dielectric sleeve 60 surrounding it, and the second passageway 42 is stripped of the coaxial cable 100. It is standardized to accommodate the end. Dielectric 60 is secured to the first passageway by stacking surrounding metal to engage dielectric 60 in a conventional manner. The pin contacts are secured in the dielectric 60 by pins with pinned portions 54 extending beyond the dielectric 60 or nodes on the central contact 50. The rectangular body portion 36 also includes a rear opening 38, which is aligned with the first passage 40 extending through the toroidal body portion 32. This opening is large enough for the dielectric sleeve 60 to be inserted where the pin contact 50 is located in the dielectric hole 62 and through the opening 38 into the first passage 40. When the pin contacts 50 are properly positioned within the shell subassembly 10, the center conductor mounting portion 52 is positioned such that the center conductor 102 of the exposed coaxial cable can be located on the U-shaped surface of the portion. Thus, the center conductor 102 is soldered or crimped so that the cable center conductor 102 is electrically connected. The cap 48 is secured to the opening 38 to seal the end of the stripped terminal coaxial cable. Cylindrical ferrule extensions 44 may extend from the bottom of the rectangular rear body 36 and ferrules 46 may be inserted over the extensions 44. The ferrule 46 and the cylindrical extension 44 comprise means for terminating the shield or braid 104 on the stripped end of the coaxial cable. However, the second passage 42 extending through the toroidal passageway provides space for the central conductor 102 of the coaxial cable and the cable dielectric separating the central conductor 102 and the braid 104.

Before the front shell 12 is positioned in relation to the foremost of the rear shell 30, the coil spring 90 is assembled by being surrounded by the body portion 32 of the toroidal or cylindrical shell. Washers 92 are located at each end of coil spring 92, and inner edges of washers 92 protrude ribs at the rear of body portion 32 of the donut shell and of rear shell 30. Engage with the rear edge of the front shell 12 surrounding the foremost part. In this way, the coil spring 90 is snapped outside of the rear shell 30 but can be freely bent in the axial direction, and the washer 92 is freely displaced in relation to the outer surface of the rear shell 30.

In a preferred embodiment of the collar subassembly 70, two shaped collar housings 72 are assembled outside the shell subassembly 10, the coil spring 90, and the shell subassembly 10. The washers 92 can be snapped or snapped together in an enclosing relationship. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two housings are of the same or male and female type and are molded of plastic such as acetal. No other hardware is needed to keep the two housings in place. However, the invention is not limited to the collar subassembly 72 formed of two male and female housings. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, each housing 72 has a pair of snap latches 74, which, when the two housings 72 partially enclose the shell subassembly, snap into place. To a corresponding snap shoulder 76 of the opposite housing. Alignment protrusions 78 on each housing 72 can be received in opposite alignment pockets 80, with protruding surfaces 88 on alignment protrusions clamped in alignment pockets 80. It is wedge not to move. The anti-vibration finger 82 protruding inwardly extends inwardly for engagement with the shell subassembly and prevents vibration or rattling of the collar subassembly 70 with respect to the shell subassembly 10. In Figures 1 and 2, the anti-vibration finger 82 and the front shell 12 appear to partially overlap, but in practice the anti-vibration finger 82 may be bent outward, and the force generated at this time may be It serves to hold the collar housing 72 in place so as not to move or vibrate. Each of the housing components 72 also includes a spring cavity 84 recessed into the interior of the curve, which includes a coil spring with a washer that engages a surface forming an end of the cavity. It is standardized to fit both sides of 90). In this way, when the collar subassembly 70 is moved longitudinally back and forth with respect to the shell assembly 10 with respect to the neutral position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the collar subassembly has a restoring force to maintain the collar and shell in the neutral position. A force is applied to the coil spring 90 in a direction opposite to the direction of the opposite force exerted by the shell subassembly 10 to apply a force to the coil spring 90 that generates the force. Each of the collar housings 72 includes a latch stop boss 86 that protrudes inwardly, as shown in FIG. 9, the latch stop boss 86 is flexible when the assembly is in a neutral position. It faces in the direction opposite to the outer rib on the spring spring finger 16. The latch stop boss 86 prevents the outward deflection of the spring finger 16 in the neutral position. However, the axial movement of the latch stop boss 86 provides clearance for outward bending of the spring finger 16 so that the plug connector assembly 2 can be engaged or released from the mating or matching coaxial connector. Not shown) However, when the collar returns to the neutral position of FIG. 9, the inwardly facing ribs 20 engage opposite surfaces of the mating or matching coaxial connector to lock the two connectors together. An axial movement of the collar 70 is necessary for the separation or release of the two connectors. That is, the relative movement between the color subassembly 70 and the shell subassembly 12 causes the two connectors to lock together in a snap-on configuration. This prevents the connector from being released or separated by sudden tension or simply by pulling it.

The fabrication, combination, mating or matching of the socket connector to be fitted with the right angle snap type coaxial plug connector 2 has been described for each component. Again, the front shell 12 is screwed from a material such as phosphor bronze, and the rear shell 30 is die cast integrally from a material such as zinc. The coil spring 90 and washer 92 are first assembled around the rear shell 30 before the front shell 12 is secured surrounding the front of the rear shell 30. In this regard, the collar housings 72 surround each other around the front shell 12 and enclose the coil spring 90 in the spring cavity 84. The collar housing thus engages the outer circumference of the washer 92 such that its relative movement can compress the spring. The center pin contact 50 inserted into the dielectric 60 is inserted through the opening 38 of the rear shell 30 to enter the first passage 40, and the rear shell 30 is connected to the pin 50 and the dielectric ( 60) to stack in place. In order to terminate the coaxial cable 100 to the connector 2, one end of the cable 100 is peeled off as shown in FIG. 11 to expose a portion of the central conductor 102 and the braid 104. Ferrule 46 is then fitted over coaxial cable 100. Thereafter, a central conductor is placed in the U-shaped portion 52 of the pin and inserted through the second passage 42 until the braid 104 leaves the portion surrounded by the ferrule extension 44. Ferrule 46 is sandwiched over the braid to terminate the braid between its extension 44 and ferrule 46. The center conductor 102 is then soldered or crimped to the U-shaped portion 52 to terminate the center contact of the pin to the center conductor 102 of the cable. And the cap 48 is stitched to block the opening 38. In this way, the plug connector assembly 2 prepares for the mating of the socket connector to be mated. During the joining or matching process, the collar assembly 70 moves relative to the shell subassembly 10 to allow the spring finger 16 to bend outward during the joining or matching process. In practice the operator grabs the collar subassembly 70 and the shell assembly 10 moves backwards with respect to the collar subassembly 70 to free the outward bending of the spring finger 16. If the operator releases the collar subassembly 70 when the two connectors are fully matched or mated, the collar assembly 70 will snap back and snap back to a neutral position due to the restoring force exerted by the compressed spring 90. The operator may pull the collar subassembly 70 in a conventional manner to release and release the two connectors, freeing the latching finger 16 or allowing the separation of the mating connector to allow the two connectors to be separated.

In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, one side is cast and the other side is screwed in to introduce a two-piece shell subassembly. Many advantages of this configuration can be achieved by manufacturing the front shell by die casting. It is obvious that another method of attaching the front shell to the rear shell is one of the common techniques in the mechanical art. It is possible to replace the molded collar housing with a metal housing or to manufacture the collar in separate parts.

 According to the present invention, a shell subassembly of two parts, which is cast on one side and screwed on the other side, may be introduced. Many of these arrangements are possible by manufacturing the front shell by die casting. Another method of attaching the front shell to the rear shell is also one of the common techniques in the art, but it is possible in the present invention to replace the molded collar housing with a metal housing or to manufacture the collar in a separate part.

These alternative methods fall within the scope of the invention claimed in the claims below, but there may be some disadvantages compared to the functionality of the connector assembly including the preferred embodiment shown here. Other methods of spring loading the collar subassembly in relation to the shell subassembly could be introduced. Therefore, the following claims are only intended to illustrate the scope of the invention and are not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.

Claims (20)

In a right angle coaxial electrical connector, Center contact; A dielectric surrounding the central contact; A shell subassembly surrounding the center contact and the dielectric; and A color subassembly; The shell subassembly is located between the dielectric and the collar subassembly, the collar subassembly is a variable, load-bearing spring relative to the shell subassembly, The shell subassembly includes a rear shell comprising a front shell attached to the rear shell, a first passage extending in a direction perpendicular to an intersecting second passage, the central contact and the dielectric located within the first passage. Wherein the second passage is standardized to receive a portion of the stripped end of the coaxial cable to which the connector is attached; The collar subassembly generally has a coaxial relationship with the first passageway, the front shell comprising at least one radially flexible spring finger extending beyond the rear shell, and wherein the collar subassembly includes the shell subassembly. Variable between a first position and a second position with respect to the spring finger in a first position to prevent bending of the spring finger in a radially outward direction, and when the collar subassembly is in a second position, And the spring finger is spaced apart from the collar subassembly in the second position so that the spring finger can be varied radially outward. The method of claim 1, And the front shell includes a plurality of flexible spring fingers. The method of claim 1, And a right angled coaxial electrical connector, wherein said front shell has greater flexibility than said back shell. The method of claim 3, wherein And the front shell surrounds the foremost of the rear shell. The method of claim 4, wherein The front shell is fixed to the rear shell, the front shell includes a continuous cylindrical band extending a plurality of spring fingers, the cylindrical band is fixed to the foremost of the rear shell, characterized in that it surrounds Coaxial electrical connector. The method of claim 3, wherein And said rear shell is comprised of a die-cast member and said front shell comprises a screwed member. The method of claim 1, And a coil spring surrounds a portion of the rear shell and the collar subassembly is compressed as it moves relative to the shell subassembly. The method of claim 1, And the collar subassembly comprises two housing components assembled to enclose a portion of the rear shell and the front shell. The method of claim 1, And the collar subassembly comprises a molded housing. The method of claim 9, And the collar subassembly comprises two mutually joinable molded housing components, wherein a coil spring fits between the two housing components and the rear shell. The method of claim 1, And the rear shell comprises a rear opening made of means for making the rear contact of the center contact accessible to secure the central conductor of the coaxial cable to the center contact. The method of claim 1, And a ferrule surrounding a portion of the rear shell comprises means for terminating an outer conductor in a coaxial cable to the shell subassembly. The method of claim 1, The rear shell is formed of an integral body having a toroidal body portion and a rectangular body portion, wherein the first passage extends through the donut body cross section, and the second passage extends through the rectangular body cross section. Right angle coaxial electrical connector, characterized in that. The method of claim 13, And said rectangular body portion comprises an opening aligned with said first passageway in said toroidal body portion. The method of claim 14, And the body portion of the rear shell is made of a zinc die-cast member. In the coaxial electrical connector assembly, Center contact; A dielectric surrounding the central contact; A shell surrounding the center contact and the dielectric; and A collar surrounding a portion of the shell, The collar is a spring loaded against the shell and varies with respect to the shell between a first position and a second position; Wherein the shell comprises a front shell composed of an integral screw processing member having a plurality of spring members attached to the rear shell and capable of bending outward, and a rear shell composed of an integral die cast member, wherein the collar is directed to the shell. A coaxial electrical connector assembly in a first position, the collar being constrained by the collar for outward deflection when the collar is in a second position with respect to the shell. The method of claim 16, And a portion of the front shell surrounds a portion of the rear shell. The method of claim 16, And means for receiving the coaxial cable extending at right angles to the center contact. The method of claim 18, A coil spring is positioned between the rear shell and the collar, the collar comprising two parts, and the shell member is assembled to surround the spring. A method of making a right angle coaxial electrical connector assembly, Diecasting the first shell member; Screwing a second shell member having a spring finger that can be bent in a radially outward direction; Positioning a spring deflected in an axial direction around the first shell member; Assembling a second shell member to the first shell member, wherein the rearmost portion of the second shell member surrounds the foremost portion of the first shell member member, and the second shell member is fixed to the first shell member; Trapping and securing an axially biased spring around the first member; And Positioning two semi-cylindrical color housing members around the first and second shell members so that the collar housing members are springs biased by axial springs relative to the first and second shell members; Right angle coaxial connector manufacturing method characterized in that consisting of.

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